and has so far eluded the descriptive powers of man. Many attempts have been made to describe faith but with indifferent success. All spiritual metaphysicians agree that faith is an apprehension by man of a mind power that connects matter and spirit. Faith handles ideas with a facility similar to that with which we handle pumpkin seeds. We plant the little seeds in good soil and watch them grow in a few months into large pumpkins. This is as great a miracle as any that Jesus performed, the difference being that it takes time and an adjustment of material instead of spiritual conditions.

But the scientific operation of the law of manifestation is just as mysterious in the one case as in the other. However we find that we can improve the conditions conducive to growth in the natural world, and it is good logic to assume that we can improve on the ancient practices of prayer. Primitive man had a sense of separation from his God. He believed that through storm, lightning, thunder, and earthquake his God was taking vengeance on him for his misdeeds, and he prayed to be saved. Then the most common form of prayer was the prayer for favors and for vengeance on one's enemies. This form of prayer was popular among the Israelites, as evidenced by their literature:

"Deliver me, 0 Jehovah, from mine enemies."

"Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me,
My deadly enemies, that compass me about.